ABSTRACT SYNONYMS OF DA EE AND ITS VARIOUS ASPECTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY QUR AN Sheikh Muhammad Ishtiaq Allah sent Du at [Pl. of Da ee i.e., Preachers] amongst all the nations in every epoch and in all lands, for the true guidance of man and persuasion to him to the right path. This is obvious from the verses of the Holy Qur an: 1 2 3 4 These Du at were sent in form of Ambya [Pl. of Nabi i.e., Prophets] and Rusul [Pl. of Rasool i.e., Messengers] and also as non-prophet Reformers. These Ambya and Rusul left no stone unturned to bring man out from the darkness of ignorance to the light of Truth. After completion of Prophethood and Messengership at Prophet Muh}ammad this responsibility transmitted to Ummah of Muh}ammad. 1 Da ee plays an active role in establishment of peace and tranquility in human societies. But, for executing this task, Da ee adopts various modes of Da wah [modes of preaching] and due to the fact he is recognized and known with different names which could be regarded as the synonyms and substitutes of Da ee. This article aims to cast light on and elaborate the various aspects the pivot figure of the Holy Qurán Ad-Da ee, such as: its lexicon definitions; meanings in Islamic terminology and its synonyms and substitutes in the light of the Holy Qur an the most comprehensive book of Da wah and the last version of Shari ah. AD-DA EE Ad-Da ee, derived from the word Ad-Da wah, is an inviter or a caller to the Religion. Dictionary Meaning of Da ee Dictionary meaning of Da ee is caller, summoner 5, convener 6, inviter. Du at 7 is the plural of Da ee and Da iyah 8 is employed for exaggeration. Definition of Da ee Da ee is a person who calls towards a [particular] religion or [specific] thought(s). 9 Meaning of Da ee in Islamic Terminology According to Islamic standpoint Da ee is a person who calls or invites to the Religion of Islam. 10 Significance of Da ee in the Holy Qur an - O Prophet (Muhammad)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner. And as one who invites to Allah by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light. (Al- Ah}zab 33:45-46) Bahria University [Karachi Campus], iqofpk@yahoo.com 11
O our people! Respond (with obedience) to Allah s Caller (i.e. Allah s Messenger Muhammad), and believe in him. He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins, and will save you from a painful torment. (Al-Ah}qaf 46:31) And whoso does not respond to Allah's Caller, he cannot escape on earth, and there will be no Auliya (helpers, protectors) for him besides Allah. (Al-Ah}qaf 46:31) SYNONYMS AND SUBSTITUTES OF DA EE Synonyms and substitutes of Da ee are frequently used in the Holy Qur an as well in Ah}adith for convincing and conveying the message of Islam. These synonyms and substitutes of Da ee are following: Mudhakkir: One who warns or admonishes 11, reminder, admonisher 12. Therefore do thou give admonition for thou art one to admonish. (Al-Ghashiyah 88:21) Munad: Public caller, herald 13. Our Lord! we have heard the call of one calling (us) to faith `Believe ye in the Lord' and we have believed. (Aal-e- Imran 3:193) Wa iz}: One who warns 14, one who exhorts to obedience, one who commands to obey, one who reminds of the results of affairs 15, admonisher, preacher 16. They said: "It is the same to us whether thou admonish us or be not among (our) Admonishers. (Ash-Shu ara 26:136) Mubashshir: One who announces joyful news 17, a giver of good tidings 18. We send the Apostles only to give good news and to warn. (Al-An am 6:50) Mundhir: Warner 19, exhorter 20. Say: "Truly am I a Warner: no god is there but the One Allah Supreme and Irresistible. (S{uad 38:65) Nadheer: Warner, preacher 21. Verily We have sent thee in truth as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warner: and there never was a people without a warner having lived among them (in the past). (Al-Fat}ir 35:24) Basheer: Bearer of good tidings. 22 Now hath come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner (from evil). (Al-Ma idah 5:19) 12
Aamir: One who commands 23, one who hold command, Ruler and learned man 24, one who charged with authority 25. If they had only referred it to the Apostle or to those charged with authority among them the proper investigators would have tested it from them (direct). (An-Nisa 4:83) Nahi: One who forbids 26, preventer 27. Muballigh 28 : One who conveys the message; Informant 29. Moos}ee: Recomender 30, One who enjoins or admonish. Hadi: Leader, guide 31. But thou art truly a warner and to every people a guide. (Ar-Ra d 13:7) Khat}eeb: Speaker, lecturer 32 ; one who delivers speech. Mu allim: Teacher. 33 Muzakkee: One who purify. Nas}eh: One who counsels or advices, one who acts as a sincere friend 34, a good counselor 35, one who desires what is good for other 36. I but fulfil towards your the duties of my Lord's mission: I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser. (Al-A raf 7:68) Murshid: One who directs aright, one who guides 37. He whom Allah leaves to stray for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way. (Al-Kahf 18:17) Muqri or Qari: Reciter, Reader. 38 Raghib: One who supplicate earnestly 39, beseesher 40. Shaheed: One who bears witness to the truth 41. Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the truth). (Qaf 50:37) Shahid: One who is present, or who bears witness 42. We have truly sent thee as a witness as a bringer of Glad Tidings and as a Warner. (Al-Fat}h 48:8) CONCLUSION The Prophets and Messengers of Allah employed various modes of Da wah such as: bearing of good tidings to the righteous people, warning to the evil-doers as well as admonition and advice to the humble. They presented Allah s message to the mankind in a comprehensible manner. Allah continued sending Prophet to various habitants and town in every era. Now, it is the duty of the Followers of the Last and Final Prophet of Allah the Prophet Muh}ammad that they should take guidance from the modes and manners of Prophets that are depicted unambiguously and explicitly in the 13
Holy Qur an the Book of Da wah and Shari ah and to struggle hard to promote the cause of Da wah by means of wise persuasion, honest efforts and patient striving so that no ambiguity and confusion remain left between Falsehood and Truth. REFERENCES 1- Al-Qur an: Surat-ul-Fat}}ir 35:24 and there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them. 2- Al-Qur an: Surat-ul-Mu minoon 23-44. then We sent our messengers one after another. 3- Al-Qur an: Surah Yunus 10:47. and for every nation there is a messenger. 4- Al-Qur an: Surat-ur-Ra d 13:7. and to every people there is a guide. 5- Cyril Glasse, 1989. The concise Encyclopedia of Islam. London: Stacey International. p 91. 6- Wah}eed-uz-Zaman, Kiranwi., 1422 A.H. Al-Qamoos-ul-Wah}eed: Arabic-Urdu Dictionary. Karachi: Idarah Islamyat. p 526. 7- Mah}mood bin Umar, al-zamakhshary., 1953. Asas-ul-Balaghah. Cairo: Mat}ba h Darul Kutub. p 131. 8- Al-Qamoos-ul-Wah}eed. p 526. 9- Ibrahim Unais., 1380 A.H. Al-Mu jam-ul-waseet}: Arabic-Arabic Dictionary. Baruit: Darul-Fikr. vol I, p 287. Abdul H{afiz} Baldyawi, 1997. Mis}bah}-ul-Lughat: Arabic-Urdu Dictionary. Karachi: Darul-ul-Ishaat. p 241. 10- Adam Abdullah, al-alori., 2004. Tarikh-ud-Da wah Ila-Allah Bain al-ams wal Yaum, 3rd ed. Cairo: Maktabah Wahbah. p 17. 11- John Penrice., 1998. A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. Karachi: Darul Ishaat. p 52. 12- A. Abbas, Nadvi., 1999. Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. Karachi: Darul Ishaat. p 201. 13- J.G. Hava., 1915. Al-Fraid-ud-Durriyyah: Arabic-English Dictionary. Beirut: Catholic Press. p761. 14- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 160. 15- Edward, William Lane., (n.d.). Arabic-English Lexicon. Beirut-Lebnon, Librairie du Liban. Part III, p 2954. 16- Muh}sin Khan and Taqi-ud-Din, Hilali., 1419 A.H. Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur an: Al-Qur an: Shu ara 26:136. Madinah: King Fahd Complex. 17- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 17. 18- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 69. 19- Ibid. p 657. 20- Al-Fraid-ud-Durriyyah: Arabic-English Dictionary. p 761. 21- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 159. 22- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 17. Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 69. 23- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 10. 24- Arabic-English Lexicon. part I, p 96. 25- Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur an: Al-Qur an: An-Nisa 4:83. 26- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 151. 27- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 685. 28- Mu awiyah narrates: Rasulullah said: I am only Muballigh [i.e. the conveyer of message] while Allah is the Bestower of Hidayah [guides towards the righteousness]. This H{adith transmitted through T{abarani (n.d.). Jami -us-s{aghir. In Muh}ammad Sa d, Dehalvi., 2001. Muntakhab Ah}adith. [English version]. Lahore: Kutub Khana Faizi, p 572. 29- A. Elias., 1947. Al-Qamoos-ul- As}ry: Arabic-English Dictionary. 4th ed. Cairo: At- Tat}ba at-ul- As}riyah. p 75. 30- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 773. 31- Ibid. p 695. 32- Al-Qamoos-ul- As}ry: Arabic-English Dictionary. p 191. 33- Ibid. p 446. 34- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 147. 35- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 667. 36- Arabic-English Lexicon. part I, p 280. 37- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 58. 38- Al-Qamoos-ul- As}ry: Arabic-English Dictionary. p 519. 14
39- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 59. 40- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 229. 41- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 80. 42- Ibid. 15
REFERENCES 1- Al-Qur an: Surat-ul-Fat}}ir 35:24 and there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them. 2- Al-Qur an: Surat-ul-Mu minoon 23-44. then We sent our messengers one after another. 3- Al-Qur an: Surah Yunus 10:47. and for every nation there is a messenger. 4- Al-Qur an: Surat-ur-Ra d 13:7. and to every people there is a guide. 5- Cyril Glasse, 1989. The concise Encyclopedia of Islam. London: Stacey International. p 91. 6- Wah}eed-uz-Zaman, Kiranwi., 1422 A.H. Al-Qamoos-ul-Wah}eed: Arabic-Urdu Dictionary. Karachi: Idarah Islamyat. p 526. 7- Mah}mood bin Umar, al-zamakhshary., 1953. Asas-ul-Balaghah. Cairo: Mat}ba h Darul Kutub. p 131. 8- Al-Qamoos-ul-Wah}eed. p 526. 9- Ibrahim Unais., 1380 A.H. Al-Mu jam-ul-waseet}: Arabic-Arabic Dictionary. Baruit: Darul-Fikr. vol I, p 287. Abdul H{afiz} Baldyawi, 1997. Mis}bah}-ul-Lughat: Arabic-Urdu Dictionary. Karachi: Darul-ul-Ishaat. p 241. 10- Adam Abdullah, al-alori., 2004. Tarikh-ud-Da wah Ila-Allah Bain al-ams wal Yaum, 3rd ed. Cairo: Maktabah Wahbah. p 17. 11- John Penrice., 1998. A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. Karachi: Darul Ishaat. p 52. 12- A. Abbas, Nadvi., 1999. Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. Karachi: Darul Ishaat. p 201. 13- J.G. Hava., 1915. Al-Fraid-ud-Durriyyah: Arabic-English Dictionary. Beirut: Catholic Press. p761. 14- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 160. 15- Edward, William Lane., (n.d.). Arabic-English Lexicon. Beirut-Lebnon, Librairie du Liban. Part III, p 2954. 16- Muh}sin Khan and Taqi-ud-Din, Hilali., 1419 A.H. Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur an: Al-Qur an: Shu ara 26:136. Madinah: King Fahd Complex. 17- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. Ibid. p 17. 18- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 69. 19- Ibid. p 657. 20- Al-Fraid-ud-Durriyyah: Arabic-English Dictionary. p 761. 21- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 159. 22- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 17. Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 69. 23- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 10. 24- Arabic-English Lexicon. part I, p 96. 25- Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur an: Al-Qur an: An-Nisa 4:83. 26- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 151. 27- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 685. 16
28- Mu awiyah narrates: Rasulullah said: I am only Muballigh [i.e. the conveyer of message] while Allah is the Bestower of Hidayah [guides towards the righteousness]. This H{adith transmitted through T{abarani (n.d.). Jami -us-s{aghir. In Muh}ammad Sa d, Dehalvi., 2001. Muntakhab Ah}adith. [English version]. Lahore: Kutub Khana Faizi, p 572. 29- A. Elias., 1947. Al-Qamoos-ul- As}ry: Arabic-English Dictionary. 4th ed. Cairo: At- Tat}ba at-ul- As}riyah. p 75. 30- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 773. 31- Ibid. p 695. 32- Al-Qamoos-ul- As}ry: Arabic-English Dictionary. p 191. 33- Ibid. p 446. 34- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 147. 35- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 667. 36- Arabic-English Lexicon. part I, p 280. 37- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 58. 38- Al-Qamoos-ul- As}ry: Arabic-English Dictionary. p 519. 39- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 59. 40- Vocabulary of the Holy Qur an: Arabic-English. p 229. 41- A Dictionary and Glossary of the Kor-an. p 80. 42- Ibid. 12